Italian for taxis, buses and the airport
Trains have their own page. This one is everything else that moves: the city bus and metro, where you buy il biglietto before you board, taxis, the airport at either end of the trip, and the hire car, with the rules that catch visitors out.
Bus and metro
- Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus?Where is the bus stop?
- Quale autobus va al centro?Which bus goes to the centre?
- Questo autobus va alla stazione?Does this bus go to the station?
- Dove compro il biglietto dell'autobus?Where do I buy the bus ticket?
- Si può fare il biglietto a bordo?Can you buy a ticket on board?
- Il biglietto vale novanta minuti.The ticket is valid for ninety minutes
- Quale linea devo prendere?Which line do I have to take?
- Scendo alla prossima.I'm getting off at the next one
- Permesso, devo scendere.Excuse me, I need to get off
Taxi
- Dov'è il posteggio dei taxi?Where's the taxi rank?
- Mi porti in via Roma, per favore.Take me to Via Roma, please
- Quanto costa fino all'aeroporto?How much is it to the airport?
- Può accendere il tassametro?Can you turn on the meter?
- Si fermi qui, grazie.Stop here, thanks
- Ho prenotato un taxi per le sei.I've booked a taxi for six o'clock
At the airport
- Dov'è il check-in?Where's check-in?
- Ho solo il bagaglio a mano.I only have hand luggage
- Vorrei imbarcare la valigia.I'd like to check in my suitcase
- Corridoio o finestrino?Aisle or window?
- Qual è il gate?Which gate is it?
- Il volo è in ritardo di due ore.The flight is two hours late
- Dove ritiro i bagagli?Where do I collect my luggage?
- La mia valigia non è arrivata.My suitcase hasn't arrived
The hire car
- Vorrei noleggiare una macchina.I'd like to hire a car
- L'assicurazione è inclusa?Is insurance included?
- È automatica o manuale?Is it automatic or manual?
- Il pieno, per favore.Fill it up, please
- Dove posso parcheggiare?Where can I park?
- Le strisce blu sono a pagamento.The blue lines are paid parking
- È vietato entrare nella ZTL.You can't drive into the ZTL
Buy the bus ticket first
City bus tickets are mostly bought before you get on, at a tabaccheria (the shops with a T sign), a newsstand, a machine or an app. Where you can buy one on board it often costs more. A paper ticket is stamped in the machine on the bus.
Taxis wait at the rank
In most Italian cities you do not hail a taxi in the street. Go to a posteggio dei taxi, at the station or a main square, or ask the hotel or the bar to call one. Airport runs often have a fixed fare, so ask the price before you set off.
Stay out of the ZTL
The historic centres of Florence and many other towns are a zona a traffico limitato. Cameras photograph every car that drives in without a permit, and the fine reaches you through the hire company weeks later. Park outside it and walk.
Biglietto · Try it
What does it mean?
Question 1 of 5: Scendo alla prossima.
Verba prints lessons like these as train tickets out of Florence, and Selene, its AI tutor, talks them through with you out loud.
